---
title: "Bolster Pillow with Piping: Self, Contrast or Stripe Body"
url: "https://cushionguide.com/answers/bolster-pillow-contrast-piping/"
section: "The Cutting Table"
author: "Harlan Pruitt, The Elder of High Point"
author_url: "https://cushionguide.com/masters/harlan/"
published: "2026-06-28"
updated: "2026-09-24"
keywords: "bolster pillow with piping, contrast piping bolster, custom bolster pillow size, self piping bolster, round bolster pillow"
---

# Can I get bolster pillows with piping or contrast piping?

*A bolster lives or dies by its two round ends. Piping is what keeps those circles clean and the line honest.*

Also asked as: Can I get a bolster with piping?; Can you add piping in the same fabric?

> **The quick answer:** Yes, bolster pillows can have piping in the same fabric as the body or contrast piping in a second fabric, and a bolster can also be made entirely in a contrast or stripe fabric. Any length and diameter works, from about 17 in (43 cm) long and 5 in (13 cm) across to 31.5 in (80 cm) long. Custom bolsters are ordered through a private link.

![Sage green bolster pillow with self piping lying across a bed in front of a taupe upholstered headboard, lamp at left](https://cushionguide.com/media/bolster-pillows/sage-green-bolster-taupe-headboard-bedroom-1600.webp "One sage bolster used in place of stacked pillows, laid along the headboard of a made bed.")

## Key facts

- Bolsters can have self piping in the body fabric.
- Contrast piping in a second fabric is available on bolsters.
- A bolster can be made entirely in a contrast or stripe fabric.
- Real order: two 31.5 in (80 cm) and two 15.75 in (40 cm) bolsters, all about 6 in (15 cm) across, with contrast piping.
- Real order: a bolster about 17 in (43 cm) long and 5 in (13 cm) across with matching piping.
- Custom bolsters are sold through a private order link, and production starts as soon as the order is placed.

## Three ways to finish a bolster's ends

| Finish | How it reads | From a real order |
|---|---|---|
| Self piping | Welt cut from the body fabric; a quiet outline at each round end | About 17 in (43 cm) long, 5 in (13 cm) across, matched to a bench cushion |
| Contrast piping | A second fabric draws a ring at both ends | Two 31.5 in (80 cm) and two 15.75 in (40 cm) bolsters, all 6 in (15 cm) across, L19 body with L23 piping |
| All-contrast body | The whole bolster in a contrast or stripe fabric | Any length and diameter, through a private link |

## Why piping earns its place on a round pillow

A bolster is a tube with a circle sewn onto each end, and those circles are where the eye goes. Piping rides right on that seam and gives it a clean edge. A seam is a promise, and piping is how you keep it where everybody can see.

Same-fabric piping, what we call [self piping](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#self-piping), keeps a [bolster pillow](https://cushionguide.com/cushions/bolster-pillows/) calm. [Contrast piping](https://cushionguide.com/glossary/#contrast-piping) in a second fabric draws a ring at both ends and ties the bolster to something else in the room. For length and diameter, the [bolster sizing Pattern](https://cushionguide.com/guides/bolster-pillow-size-diameter/) has the numbers.

## Four bolsters, two lengths, one diameter

A buyer wrote to the workshop wanting four bolsters, my friend: two long ones at about 31.5 in (80 cm) and two short ones at about 15.75 in (40 cm), every one of them 6 in (15 cm) across. The body was fabric L19, and the piping was L23, a second fabric to outline each end.

Four custom sizes don't fit a dropdown, so the workshop set them up through a private order link, and production started the moment the order was placed. Same diameter on all four is the quiet trick there. Long or short, they read as one family.

> **Tailor's margin:** A bolster with contrast piping takes two fabrics: one for the body, one for the welt ringing both round ends.

> Bolster pillows can take self piping, contrast piping or a full stripe body, at any length and any diameter from 4 in to 10 in.
>
> — Harlan

## Buyer questions

**A common question:** Can you make bolsters to my own length and diameter, with contrast piping?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Two 31.5 in (80 cm) and two 15.75 in (40 cm) bolsters, all 6 in (15 cm) across, were made in L19 with L23 piping through a private order link. Production started as soon as the order was placed.

**A common question:** Can you make one small bolster to match my bench cushion?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. A bolster about 17 in (43 cm) long and 5 in (13 cm) across was made in the same fabric as the bench cushion, and matching same-fabric piping can be added. It is sold through a custom order link.

**A common question:** Can I buy just a bolster, or only a bolster cover?

**The workshop's answer:** Yes. Bolsters are sold singly in any color, and zippered bolster covers alone can be made to your diameter and length. Custom combinations are priced through an offer or a custom link.

## Questions buyers ask next

### What diameter works best for a bolster pillow?

The standard is 8 in (20 cm), with an armrest bolster's length matching the seat depth. Any diameter can be made, from slim 4 in bolsters for thin cushions up to 10 in (25 cm), and long bolsters can be split in two.

### Can matching throw pillows come with a bolster order?

Yes, in any color and size, as covers only or filled with shredded foam or solid foam. Each piece has a minimum production price, and adding them to your original package costs less than ordering them later.

### How long does a bolster ordered on its own take?

Work starts as soon as the order is placed through the private link. Backrests and bolsters ordered alone come with filling included in matching fabric; ask for the making and delivery times in writing, and leave yourself a little margin.

## Related at the atelier

- [Will a bolster stay in place, or can it be attached?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/attach-bolster-strap-hook-and-loop/): A bolster ships loose, with no strap, unless you ask for one on the order.
- [Bolster Pillow in Navy Pinstripe on a Cream Bouclé Daybed](https://cushionguide.com/readings/navy-pinstripe-bolster-channel-tufted-boucle-daybed/): Stripe-cut self piping is the best choice for a pinstripe bolster pillow, because a solid welt would draw a hard ring around the end cap and fight the fine lines.
- [Bolster Pillows in Sage, Red Stripe and Cobalt: A Daybed Remade](https://cushionguide.com/readings/sage-red-stripe-cobalt-bolsters-crossed-daybed/): Bolster pillows are the quickest real makeover a daybed can get: three rolls in different fabrics, one shared length, and the room changes.
- [Bolster Pillow Fabrics: Six Cloths and How to Order Them Right](https://cushionguide.com/readings/six-bolster-pillows-velvet-corduroy-stripe-studio-stack/): To order a bolster pillow right the first time, give the workroom the length, the diameter and the exact fabric code, not a color name.
- [Can I get round bolsters as armrests at each end of my window seat?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/round-bolster-armrests-window-seat-bench/): Yes, bolster armrests for a window seat are made to match the seat's fabric and piping, one for each end, usually as long as the seat is deep.
- [Can I order matching bolsters later for a cushion I already bought?](https://cushionguide.com/answers/add-matching-bolsters-to-existing-cushion/): Yes, a matching bolster for an existing cushion can be made later, because the workshop keeps fabric stock and can cut the same fabric and color as your original order, even a year on.
- [Bolster pillow sizes: choosing diameter and length for a seat or daybed](https://cushionguide.com/guides/bolster-pillow-size-diameter/)
- [Reading nook bolsters, back pillows and a seat depth that invites a nap](https://cushionguide.com/guides/reading-nook-cushion-bolsters/)

*Sit well. — Harlan*

---

Written by Harlan Pruitt (https://cushionguide.com/masters/harlan/) for CushionGuide (https://cushionguide.com/about/). The site explains made-to-measure cushions and the partner workshop makes them; measurements are in inches first. This Markdown mirrors the page at https://cushionguide.com/answers/bolster-pillow-contrast-piping/